51.2 billion pieces of litter are left on roadways in the United States equaling 6,729 pieces per mile.

9,250 bags of litter are picked up from Valley freeways each month, totaling about 1.2 million pounds of litter each year.

Keep America Beautiful cites four primary sources of roadway litter:

Tobacco products, mostly cigarette butts (38%)

Paper (22%)

Plastic (19%)

Improperly covered truck or cargo loads (16.4%)

Littering is not only unsightly, it can cause environmental and health problems. Cigarette butts, for example, contain toxic chemicals that can end up in storm drains and contaminate our water systems. Trash and other items falling from unsecured loads can cause serious traffic accidents.

Debris on roadways nationwide causes 25,000 accidents each year and more than 80 fatalities. Between 1999 and 2001, Arizona reported 5 fatal accidents due to road debris. Accidents and slowdowns due to road debris also cause delays and increase the time we spend stuck in traffic.

Littering can cost drivers and their passengers a misdemeanor fine of $500 in the state of Arizona.

ADOT has more than 1,500 Adopt a Highway volunteers and sponsors helping litter cleanup efforts statewide.

If you witness someone littering, you can call the litter hotline at 1-877-3LITTER (354-8837)